Budgetary allocation for tourism sought
Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh (TDAB) yesterday demanded that the government allocate fund for the development of tourism sector in the budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.
“The government has announced a large budget without allocating a single penny for the development of the tourism sector,” said Zamiul Ahmed, chairman of the association.
The government has allocated Tk 36 crore for the tourism ministry in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year only to help the ministry bear its own regular expenditure.
Zamiul was addressing a press conference on 'Neglected Tourism Sector in the National Budget 2008-2009' organised by TDAB in Dhaka.
Tourism is a potential sector that can lead to a substantial economic growth by generating a huge revenue, but the sector has been neglected for long, he said.
He also demanded that the government should allocate lands for building resorts and leisure centres at different tourist spots in the country.
Main hurdles to developing the sector include lack of initiatives to highlight different tourist spots of the country and their features, according to Ahmed.
He also demanded budgetary allocation for developing a strong communication system and a government database containing detailed information about the tourist spots for the primary development of the sector.
The conference also put emphasis on proper government planning regarding the sector.
Mohiuddin Helal and Monjur Morshed, general secretary and vice president of the association, were also present at the press conference.
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